Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set (58 page)

Chapter Six

“
I knew something like this would happen. I just knew it.” Allison’s mother sat in the front seat wringing her hands, repeating the same phrase. After the fifth time, Allison tuned her out and nodded her head, giving the appearance of attention.

She glanced in the rearview mirror at Audrey, who
’d chimed in on her mother’s rant a few times. Instead of saying anything, she shook her head. Allison fought the urge to pull the car over and smack the look of embarrassment Audrey wore off her face. After all, she had screwed up but it wasn’t the end of the world. Or so she felt after speaking with Sarah. Who, she reminder her mother, was not freaking out.

Her mother wore a veil of cool, calm and collected around the bridal party but as soon as her butt hit the beige interior of the car, she fell into full on freaky mother mode.

“Allison you work, too much.”

“
Mom, its fine. And this has nothing to do with my work. I made a mistake. I now own a peach dress and the blue one is on its way. Hell, Sarah is calm.”

“
Don’t cuss.”

“
Sorry,” Allison rolled her eyes.

“
Yes, but if you didn’t have work on your mind twenty four seven, you might not have made such a mistake.”

Again, she nodded hoping for a change in subject but knowing she
’d not be as lucky.

“
I agree with mom, Allison. You do work too much. I mean what kind of life is that?”

“
Thanks for your two cents Audrey but I need to work to make money in order to live and have things like food, clothing and shelter.” Allison’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. Her left foot tapped against the floorboard. The car moved closer and closer to Valley but not fast enough.

“
All we’re saying dear is this could have been avoided if your head wasn’t on other things, like work, all the time. Maybe if you allowed yourself to have a little fun or, I don’t know, live a life, you’d be happier.”

“
I’m fine Mom. Honestly. Besides, George and I have fun together.” Of course her mother didn’t need to know the details. “I appreciate the concern but I’m good. And the entire situation with the dress worked itself out. No problem. I’ll run back to the dress shop in a few days to make sure it fits and all will be fine. Now, can we please talk about something else?” She glanced out the right side of the car in time to see the Valley city limit sign pop into her view. Wonderful. In a matter of minutes. She’d be free.

“
Okay, how about we grab a bite to eat before we head home.” Her mother asked.

“
That sounds wonderful. I don’t have to head home for a few hours.” Audrey chimed in.

“
Actually, I’m really tired. And George should be home soon. If it’s okay with you two, I’ll skip lunch but promise to make time this week to catch up some more.” She couldn’t help the lie but Allison knew she needed some space from the two women. Besides, avoiding any arguments with her sister kept everyone happy.

“
Very well. I’m sure the guys kept him busy this morning so he’ll be exhausted, too.”

Knowing George was following her brother and Ryan around the golf course brought a smile to her face. A look that would eventually morph into laughter at the sight of him. George visited the gym a couple days during the week. Although, anytime they
’d have to walk several blocks around Chicago to avoid the death traps they called cabs, he’d complain. She blamed his lack of proper footwear. Secretly, she wondered if he only went to the gym to watch.

After returning home, Allison tromped up the stairs avoiding additional contact with her sister and mom. Allison thought she
’d be closer to her sister when they grew up, but a five-year age difference still felt like twenty.

Even if age wasn
’t a factor, the two girls had nothing in common. In high school, Audrey was already off to college, focusing on her academics when Allison cheered at football games and hung out with the team afterwards. When Audrey attended high school, she spent most of her time studying or working on student government or the debate team. Her focus remained on school and only hearing stories from her mother when she came home about Allison and Adam having fun.

A small part of Allison hoped someday, when she found herself married with kids, the two could find closeness. For now, their worlds felt years apart.

The clothing she wore to the bridal shop fell to the floor replaced with an old T-shirt and flannel lounge pants. The differences between her and Audrey rattled in the back of her mind. Her sister went from serious about school to her family and sharing time with them. Allison on the other hand lacked any fun in her life, keeping her attention on work.

Remembering the scene her father and grandmother walked in on the previous night, Allison tiptoed down the hall to the spare bedroom. The doorknob turned without making a sound. With her hands on the knob, she tucked a book she
’d grabbed from her room under her arm. With her palm against the white door, she eased it open knowing George wasn’t inside but remaining quiet seemed the smart thing to do. The room was still scattered with clothes and shoes. Following a maze of fabric, she maneuvered through the mess picking up discarded items to peer underneath.

Where would he hide her yearbook?

After a few more passes and peeks under covers and clothes, Allison gave up. She’d figure out another way to get her book back.

With a romance novel in hand and socks on her feet, Allison padded down the stairs to the living room. The grandfather clock in the hallway ticked out a steady rhythm breaking up the lack of noise in the house. She hadn
’t paid attention to where her sister and mother went for lunch and released a deep breath for her newfound solitude.

Roaming from room to room, all the new additions and upgrades her parents did for the wedding became apparent. For the week, their average Valley home would be on display for a bridal shower and various out of town guests who planned on stopping by to say hello. Besides freshly painted walls, with the scent still lingering, the living room had gained major improvements. A big screen television and new furniture.

The chocolate brown leather on the large sectional was butter soft when Allison ran a hand along the top. The seat bottoms and back sunk in when she plopped down. The scent of leather and vanilla filled the space in the room. Her feet propped atop a square wooden coffee table positioned between the sectional and new TV. Scattered around her socked feet sat an array of remotes, each one with a different brand name inscribed across the bottom. Since her brother was the only one living at home with their parents, he must’ve had a hand in picking out the new electronic monstrosity that covered one entire wall of the living room. Small black speakers hung from the corners of the ceiling and she imagined the room vibrating during a high impact action sequence in any of her brother’s favorite movies.

After analyzing each remote and not really sure which one actually turned the TV on, Allison sat the handful of black objects back on the table, grabbed her book and settled into the supple fabric. She let her lids fall shut and breathed the leather scent deep into her lungs. She loved the smell. Her body relaxed, pulling her lids closed. The soothing tick of the clock pushed her farther and farther to sleep.

****

The couch dipped, rousing Allison from her much needed nap. The scent of men
’s cologne wafted around her.

“
Adam?” She rubbed her eyes. Allison stretched her arms over her head and pointed her legs toward the opposite end of the couch. When her toes hit her brother’s leg, she gave him a kick.

“
Excuse you,” a voice sounded that wasn’t her brother’s.

Allison pushed off against whoever sat at the end of the couch and righted herself. Upright, she ran a quick hand across her mouth wiping away the spittle and noticed a cushion and a half sat between her and Ryan Johnson. Short dark brown hair pointed out a backwards facing ball cap. A look Allison never liked but on Ryan, she began to appreciate. Broad shoulders covered in a snug three button blue polo shirt begged to be touched.

Her eyes continued their perusal, taking in the man feast before her. When she’d finished a trip down and then back up, locking again on his face, her cheeks warmed.

“
Why’d you kick me?”

“
Sorry. I was…sleeping and I thought you were Adam.”

“
You make a habit of kicking him?” A gleam in his eye mesmerized Allison. They’d spent countless times sitting in her family’s living room when they were younger watching cartoons or movies. Each time made her palms sweat. His proximity made her nervous.

Who was she fooling? His proximity made a pool of goo churn in her belly.

“Um, no.” She flicked the pages of her book. The ruffled sound broke the silence in the room but not the flutters along her skin.

“
So, did you guys have fun?”

He grabbed the bill of his hat, pulling it around to the front of his head.
“Sure. I think you’re brother won but I don’t have as much time these days to hit a round.”

“
Why? Busy social life?” She wasn’t sure what prompted her to ask. Did she really want to know what he did in his spare time? Or was she more concerned with whom he spent his free time with?

“
Something like that.”

“
Where’s Adam now?”

“
He’s changing to play some basketball and then probably giving Sarah a call.”

“
Oh.” Allison’s posture softened, allowing her to turn slightly in Ryan’s direction. “Don’t you need to change?” She hoped when he left to put something more appropriate on for basketball, she’d escape to her room to hide until the wedding. With her face burning hot, she could only imagine the shade of red. Ryan not only prompted wonderful memories but he brought out the high school girl crushing on her brother’s friend. A trait she wasn’t proud to display.

“
Naw, I’m good.” His body seemed to inch closer to hers.

Running a list of topics in her head to break up the silence, one came to mind. Something, or someone, she should have asked about sooner popped into her head.
“Did George have a good time?”

“
Good time? Probably not. Golf doesn’t seem to be his sport.”

Guilt tugged at the side of her mouth, pulling her lip down as she offered an
“oops” expression. George was masquerading as her boyfriend and asking about him should have been her number one priority.

The next item on her list probably included not offering him up as a sports fanatic like her brother. Poor guy. She was going to owe him big.

Ryan seemed to fall closer and closer and his pull affected Allison. The cushion dipped, causing her to lean toward Ryan. He licked his lips as his eyes dipped lower. Heat burned against her skin, watching him watch her. Butterflies slam danced in her stomach. Similar images of a night years earlier played in her mind. She wondered if he had the same thoughts. Had he ever wondered what could have been?

Ryan pushed closer. Trusting what was about to happen, she allowed her lids to fall closed. She could almost feel his breath against her face. Mint gum filled the space between them.

“Isn’t that my shirt?”

Chapter Seven

Allison tugged at the hem of her shirt, pulling the threadbare material from her body. Her eyes travelled down to the school mascot screen printed on the front and back up to Ryan
’s face. She stared and contemplated her response. The shirt was his. Maybe he didn’t remember. Or he did and his remark was his way of bringing up the past.

The moment they shared replayed in her mind over and over again like it had for the past six years.

Ryan’s expression gave nothing away.

“
No. I don’t think so.” Allison’s face heated. She wrapped her arms around her midsection to hide the shaking. Her fingers ran along the seam at her side. If he remembered, did it make him jittery inside, she wondered.

“
Yes it is.” His grin grew.

“
Nope. I think you’re wrong.” Allison firmly stated.

Ryan
’s brown eyes glowed, adding more fire to her belly.

His gaze drifted, landing below her ear. His hand moved from its resting spot on the couch to her shoulder.
“I can prove this is mine.” Electricity travelled throughout every inch of her body where his finger touched her through the whole in the shirt. She shuddered in response. “My shirt had a hole in it.”

Her tongue tied itself into a knot. Heat in her face intensified with the tingling sensation along her skin. Would he acknowledge how she
’d taken possession of the shirt? Part of her craved reenactment while another part of her worried what would happen next.

“
Um.” Words didn’t form leaving her with sounds.

“
What are you two doing?” Adam walked into the living room wearing a turned backwards cap. His question broke the stare Allison had locked onto Ryan’s face.

“
Nothing,” they said in unison. Adam lifted an eyebrow darting his stare between the two.

If Ryan remembered how she obtained the shirt, he wasn
’t letting Adam in on their secret. His simple act of mystery caused Allison to develop even more questions and assumptions.

“
Whatever.” Adam plopped down on the cushion Allison used to keep space between her and Ryan. He leaned forward, grabbed up a remote from the large selection and pushed a button. She committed to memory which of the five black remotes he grabbed for the next time she wanted to watch TV.

“
Listen, man. Can we shoot hoops another day. I’m beat from golf.” Adam pushed back farther into the couch flipping through the channels. One hand on the remote with the other flung up and over the back of the sofa.

“
Sure.”

Allison rose from her seat, book tucked under her arm.
“I’m gonna go up and read. I’ll see you later.”

Focused on sports blaring from the television, neither guy said a word. Each waved a hand overhead as she passed.

Needing someone to digest her Ryan encounter with, Allison took a left at the top of the stairs.

She tapped her knuckles against George
’s door. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

The door flew open and her eyes glued to a wet body shot of George wrapped in a towel. She had to admit. He was a nice looking guy with a great body. Too bad, she thought.

“I’ve got to talk to you.” Her shoulder brushed against his as she weaved through the clothes to the bed.

George closed the door and ruffled his blonde hair with a towel.
“Yeah, we do need to talk. Golf? Seriously. You sent me out with the men,” George stretched the word longer than needed. “I don’t know how they do it in the straight world, but you do not do that to your gay pretend boyfriend. This body is way too pretty for that type of strenuous activity.” With a towel in one hand, he ran the other up and down as if he was the next prize on The Price Is Right.

“
Look, I’m sorry about that. Honestly, I thought the round of golf would be mostly driving around on a golf course and having some drinks. And I owe you huge. But the only way I can think to begin to repay you is with a story of my teenage angst.”

“
Ooh, this better be good.” George sat down on the bed beside her and crossed his legs. Part of the towel fell to the side, revealing his thigh.

Allison
’s hand flew to her eyes. “Um, can you put some clothes on first?”

The bed unsuppressed when he stood.
“Fine. When did you become such a prude?” His voice trailed off.

Allison peeked through her fingers and dropped her hand when she didn
’t see George in the room. “When we arrived at my childhood home. Now hurry up.”

A few minutes later, George emerged from the bathroom clad in dark jeans, a deconstructed T-shirt and bare feet. Allison suddenly wanted to run to her room and throw on a dress. Her casual sweatpants and old shirt weren
’t nice enough for George’s idea of casual wear.

“
Okay, I’m ready. Spill.”

Allison jumped from the bed, wringing her hands and creating tracks in the carpet.
“Six years ago, the summer before I went to college. Actually, the weekend before I left, my parents went to our lake house with some friends leaving Adam and I home. Audrey tagged along with her fiancé Jack.”

“
Boring.” George leaned back on his elbows.

“
Shh. I’m setting up the story. Anyway, Adam and I hung out all the time in high school. He played sports and I cheered or watched. We had a lot of the same friends and Valley High isn’t very big so we all knew each other anyway.”

Allison stopped pacing, glanced at George and rolled her eyes. He went from reclining to lying down with his eyes closed.

“We decided to have a few people over when our parents were out. One last hurrah before I left and Adam started his senior year. And of course, Ryan came.”

George
’s eyes popped open.

“
I’ve always had a huge crush on Ryan. And he’s always been around. He lived down the street. We were in the same grade and he and Adam were super close until they kind of went their separate ways in college.” Allison continued her pacing as she told her story.

“
I couldn’t keep my eyes off him that night. I wanted to make a move. I told myself to be brave and throw myself out there and see what happens. I was leaving in a few days for college and if it didn’t work out, I’d never really see him again. But I chickened out.” Allison swallowed analyzing her next words. “Until later that night.”

George sat up, crossed his legs and propped his head atop his hands, which rested against his knees. His blue eyes sparkled. Eager for some juicy details.

“Some people brought beer to the party. I wasn’t a big drinker but figured I was home, what could it hurt? Well, one beer turned into two which turned into three. By midnight, I felt great. And brave. Everybody had left or was about to and Adam and Sarah were off somewhere together. I noticed Ryan had his shirt on like he was ready to leave. Jumping to make the most of my only opportunity, I asked Ryan if he could help me with something up in my room.”

“
You little drunken minx.” George’s eyes sparkled.

“
Knock it off. Anyway, we get up there, he shuts the door and I freeze. He doesn’t seem to question anything and walks around my room, picking at things on my desk and bookshelves. I watched him, building up my courage. He gets to my stereo and hits play. My Rascal Flats CD croons from my speakers.” Allison swallowed. Her cheeks heated thinking about what happened next. “He turns around and walks towards me. I’m completely tongue-tied, and he asks what I needed him for. And George, he looked so hot. His hair was all messy from being in the pool and I could make out the definition of his muscles beneath his shirt. And his brown eyes were dark and hidden, mysterious in the dim lamp light. So I looked him in the eyes…” She sat down next to George who leaned in close. “I told him I needed him and grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to me, evaporating any space and I kissed him.”

“
And.” George’s leg bounced shaking the bed.

“
And he kissed me back. I mean, kiss, kiss. Like, grab me around the waist and carry me to the bed kiss.”

“
Oh my.” George placed a hand in front of his gaping mouth.

“
I know. We made out. On. My. Bed. And at some point, his shirt came off and we were rolling around kissing in our swimming suits. Until someone knocked on my door. More specifically, Adam knocked on my door. I’ve never moved so fast. Ryan rolled from my bed and I jumped to stand by my radio. He opens the door and tells Adam that I wanted to show him my new CD.”

“
Did he believe you?”

“
I think so. I mean, he never asked about it. Adam left with Ryan following sans his T-shirt.” She grabbed the middle of her shirt and pulled it away from his body. “This T-shirt.”

“
You did not keep it.”

“
Of course I did. I took it with me to college.”

“
Aww, that’s kind of sweet in a stalker girl kind of way.” George pulled back, avoiding her playful slap. “So, why this little chit chat now.”

“
Ryan’s downstairs.”

“
Yeah.” George’s eyebrows sat high on his forehead

“
And he saw me. Pointed to my shirt and said it was his.”

“
It is his.”

“
I know. But do you think he remembers how I got it?”

“
How am I supposed to know?”

“
That’s why I came up here.”

George left Allison on the bed. He began his turn of making tracks in the carpet as she worked her bottom lip. He tapped a slender finger against his chin. With each turn, he stopped in front of the vanity table mirror and ran his hand through his hair before he
’d turn and continued.

“
Maybe I’m not the best one to help you figure this out. I think men are just as complicated as women. My personal opinion. I think he remembers. If he said, ‘hey, that looks like my shirt’ and then quickly replied ‘never mind’, then we’d know that he recognized his shirt, forgot how you got it but remembered and didn’t want to talk about it. But his response appears that maybe he does want to talk about it.” George sat back down on the bed, crossed his legs and looked to his faux girlfriend. “What you want to do about it.”